A TODDLER trapped when a kitchen worktop fell on him may not have died if it had not been for a pre-existing heart condition.

An inquest heard that the family of 17-month-old Dhaanish Awaan had no idea of the boy's problem until hearing the findings of a post-mortem examination.

Specialist paediatric pathologist Dr Melanie Newbold said there were no serious external injuries as a result of the four-metre worktop falling and trapping Dhaanish against a wall.

But she said the incident could easily have led to a cardiac event because of the existing infection which had caused inflammation of the heart muscle.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Michael Singleton said it was clear Dhaanish had pulled the worktop over onto himself.

"It is now also clear that if he had not been suffering from this viral infection the worktop falling on him may not have proved to be a serious event," said Mr Singleton.

The inquest heard that the boy's father, Abdul Malik, manufactured kitchens and had been involved in fitting a kitchen near to the family home in Queens Road, Blackburn.

Two worktops had been left in the hallway of the family home after being delivered from Manchester.

Mr Malik said the worktops were only taken into the house because it was raining and would have been taken to be fitted the following day.

On October 13 Dhaanish's granddad, Mayboob Malik, came downstairs at around 9.30am and found him pinned against the wall by one of the worktops.

He freed the child and passed him to his mother, Shazia Malik, who attempted emergency resuscitation.

An ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Dr Newbold confirmed that the viral infection which caused the heart inflammation would not have been apparent to his family.

Dhaanish suffered from asthma and she said the symptoms would have been similar to an asthma attack.

His family were today too upset to speak about his death.

At the time, they spoke lovingly of the little boy they had lost.

His father Abdul Ghafoor Malik, 30, said: "He was an absolutely fantastic little boy who lived life with a smile on his face.

"All parents say their children are wonderful but anybody who met Dhaanish knew just what sort of a kid he was.

"Some children are very shy of older people at that age but he would just go up to people straight away, no matter who it was, and start talking and laughing with them."